AFTER essential works to support the roof at East Tilbury Library, volunteers from the Bata Heritage Centre were given access on Wednesday 15 February, to assess and collect invaluable items after a car was reversed into the library and set alight in January.
Volunteers, along with Thurrock Council Officers, helped remove the remaining museum items which are kindly being stored by One Big Storage in East Tilbury.
Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Sue MacPherson said: “It is times like this when you realise what the word ‘community’ really means. I would like to thank One Big Storage in East Tilbury, along with the Post Office and HW Wilsons for their immense support and generosity during this difficult time.”
Chair of Bata Heritage Centre, Mike Tarbard said: “We were pleasantly surprised to see the majority of the museum items in a recoverable condition and estimate 90 per cent of our collection has been salvaged. We were very fortunate that the fire was contained in the foyer area and that the fire doors restricted the potential damage that could have been caused. We are now working on the long job to restore the artefacts to their original state.”
